Nature as an Educator. 171 



is attended by a most abominable stench. This kind of 

 decomposition is due to another microbe — the Bacillus 

 subtilis, or, according to others, an allied form, Clostridium 

 butyricum. 



There is no doubt that the peculiar fermentation which 

 leads to the formation of tyrotoxicon is due to another of 

 these microbes, but the particular microbe is not known. 



Nature as an Educator. 1 



By Sir William Dawson. 



In the winter of 1856-7 I had the honor of delivering the 

 introductory lecture of our Sommerville course, and took 

 as my subject " Natural Hi story in its Educational Aspects." 

 Now, after the lapse of thirty-three years, and after the 

 great changes which have occurred since that time, I desire 

 to recur to the subject, and to ask what is the present 

 aspect of nature as an educator relatively to education in 

 general and to a society like this. 



Let us consider in the first place how early, continuous 

 and persistent are the operations of nature as an educator, 

 regarding nature as a general name for all those objects 

 which come under the cognizance of our senses, and from 

 which we derive sensations and perceptions. It is scarcely 

 necessary here to make any exception in regard to things 

 artificial, for in reality these are all merely adaptations and 

 imitations of nature. Nor need we inquire as to the reality 

 or the origin of these objects, but may take them as the 

 environment surrounding us on every side, and at all times 

 more or less presenting itself to us. 



From the moment when we first open our eyes on the 

 outer world we are receiving impressions from external 

 nature, which go on extending and multiplying at least 

 until our attention is called away by pursuits and studies 

 relating to the artificial life of man, and even then we recur 

 when we can to nature as our most grateful teacher, nay, 

 the friend and companion whose teaching has no hard tasks 

 but is all pleasure. The weary schoolboy gladly turns 

 1 Annual Presidential Address before the Natural History Society 

 of Montreal. 



